I never wanted a beige, minimal home. That was never me. I’ve always been drawn to color, personality, and the little design risks that make a space feel alive. Still, somewhere along the way, I found myself second-guessing the joy in my space. The world outside felt heavy—so heavy that at times, even decorating started to feel, well, serious.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Colorful decor choices

create joyful, lively

spaces with unique personality

Home should reflect

comfort and playfulness,

not showroom perfection

Mixing patterns and

thrifted pieces welcomes

creativity over perfection

Designing for kids:

embrace mess, encourage

exploration and freedom

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It was as if all the noise of the world started creeping in: the pressure to get it “right,” to follow trends, to make it all make sense. But lately, I’ve stopped caring about what makes sense. I care more about what feels good.

There’s so much happening in the world that feels out of our control. So if I’m going to have a say anywhere, it’s going to be in my home. These days, that means leaning into color, softness, play, and pieces that make me smile, even if they don’t “go” together. Especially if they don’t go together.

I’ve started choosing joy over polish. Creativity over perfection. That might mean mixing patterns, hanging something just because it makes me happy, or keeping a thrifted piece that’s completely impractical but deeply loved.

I’m Designing for My Son, Too

Becoming a mom shifted everything, especially how I think about home. I want my son to grow up in a space that feels magical, not something he has to tiptoe around. I want him to see that home can be expressive and emotional, that style doesn’t have to mean silence, and that beautiful things don’t have to be perfect.

When he walks through our home, I want him to feel free to play, explore, and knock things over. I want him to remember art on the walls, blankets on the floor, and a mom who chose color and joy in a world that often feels gray.

I’m Letting Go of the Pressure to Impress

My home is not a showroom. It’s not styled for Instagram, or a mood board come to life. It’s mine and it’s allowed to grow and evolve as I do. It holds laughter, softness, music, and the occasional pile of unfolded laundry.

I’m creating a space that reflects what I need more of: joy, curiosity, comfort, and a sense of play. That shift has made my space feel more like home than any perfectly styled room ever could.